Therapeutic apparatus



Sept 1927 M. w. WENTWORTH THEHAPE TIC APPARATUS Filed uly e, 1925 3 She'ets-Sheet 1 927 M. w. WENTWORTH 7 THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS I Filed Juy 6, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "minim ll Nil 1,643,399 Sept. M, w. WENTWGRTH THERAPEUTI G APPARATUS Filed July 6. '1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MERTON W. WENTWORTH, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SANITARIUM AND HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

Application filed July 6, 1925. Serial No. 41,465.

This invention relates to improvements in therapeutic apparatus, and has reference more particularly to a device in the nature of a vibrating table for administering both mechanical and manual massage treatments to patients. In its preferred and most complete form, herein illustrated and hereinafter described, there is also associated with the table an electric cabinet for the administering of heat and light treatmentsto the patient.

Among the more important objects of the invention are, to providean improved table for administering mechanical massage treat ment, by which rapid vibratory effects may be conveniently applied to the entire body of the patient seated or lying upon the table, to provide, in such a device, improved means for effecting and cushioning the vibrations, to provide a table equipped for the application of mechanical vibration which may also conveniently serve as a rest or support for a patient undergoing manual massage, and to provide, in association with such a table, improved means for applying heat and light treatments either independently or supplemental to the massage treatment-s. Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be a parent to persons familiar with therapeutic devices of this class fromthe following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated one practical and preferred physical embodiment of the principle of the in vention and in Which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus, viewed from the right of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the ofiset line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the top of the table and the cabinet, taken on the offset line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged axial section through the vibrator and its supporting shaft;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the manner of fastening the body walls and end coverings of the cabinet to the end frames of the latter; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating certain structural details of the body 1 of the cabinet.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a rectangular base plate, on the four corners of which are securely mounted upstanding coil springs 11. The table comprises vertical corner legs 12, conveniently made of angle bars, side and end bars 13 and 14: rigidly connecting and spacing the upper ends of the legs 12, inclined braces 15 connecting the side bars 13 to the legs 12, and horizontal struts 16 rigidly connecting and spacing the braces 15. To the lower ends of the legs 12 are attached feet 17, each of which is formed with an annular shoulder 18 (Fig. 2) and with a depending mandrel 19 that is spirally grooved to receive the upper ends of the springs 11, whereby the legs of the table are attached to the springs and prevented from becoming displaced from the latter under the vertical vibrating movements of the table as hereinafter described. Attached to and supported by the side and end bars 13 and 14 is a flat table top 20.

To effect the vibration of the table, there. is mounted on the base 10 an electric motor conventionally illustrated at 21, the shaft'of which carries a pulley 22 that is connected by a belt 23 to a pulley 2 1 (Fig. 4) preferably formed integral with a drum 25. This drum 25 is journaled, preferably by roller bearings 26, on a fixed shaft 27 that extends crosswise of the table frame a short distance beneath the table top 20' and at the longitudinal center of the latter; the ends of said shaft 27 being mounted and keyed in hanger brackets 28 that are'attached to the side bars 13. To the ends of the drum 25 are attached sleeves 29 internally grooved to contain packing rings 31 fitted on sleeves 32 encircling and pinned to the shaft 27, whereby grease packed in the drum 25 to lubricate the bearings 26 is confined against substantial leakage. Keyed on the shaft'27 beyond the ends of the sleeves 29 and encircling the latter are cups 33 designed to catch any drippings of grease or oil that may work past the packing rings 31.

On, and preferably integral with, the

drum 25 a radially extending lug Set, the weight of which serves to unbalance the drum 25 and, as the drum is rapidly rotated by the motor, to impart a fine, rapid vibration to the shaft 27 which is transmitted through the rigid hanger brackets 28'to'the sides of the table frame.

The device as thus far described is complete'tor purposes of administering mechanical Vibration and manual massage treatment to a patient seated or lying on the tab e top. To enhance the therapeutic eflici-enc'y' of the apparatus, hmvever, I pre'li'erably and as herein shown, equip the table with anelectric cabinet by, which light and heat treatment may be administeredeither ind e pendently or as complemental to the vibration and massage treatment. Describing this cabinet, in its general features it comprises a substantially semi cylindrical hood hinged at one edge to'one' of the side rails 13 of the table frame and of a width to substantially span and cover the table top. If desired to administer light and'heat treatmentto theentirebody of'a patient it may be made ina length substantially equal to that of' the table; but I have herein shown the cabinet as somewhat shorter and equipped at" its ends with split curtains, so that the lieadand'teet of thepatient may be outside thc'cahine't, while his trunk is-being' subjected to the heat and light effects within thelatter. Describing the cabinet more in detail, designates" each of a pair of semi ohlong metalend frames, each'oi which is 'formed on its inner side andslightly inwardly of its outer edge, with a rib or flange 36 (Fig. 5). The'vertical lllnbSOf'tllBffl'hlllQ 35'are'connected and spaced at their lower ends by wooden bars 37 (Fig. 6). Thebody or shell of the cabinet is preferably for-med as a laminated structure, andcomprises, in the instance shown. an inner sheet 38 of aluminum, which is attached by screws 39- (Fig: 5) to the inner side of the flange 36, a covering 41 comprising one or-more sheets of asbestos paper overlying the aluminum sheet 38'. a thin dead. air space 42' (Fig. outside the asbestoscoyering ll; for insulartio'n" purposes andto accommodate the light wireshereinatterdescribed, next" a thin sheet of steel i an'do'ver thelattc "an'out'ercoyerin'g' ll of imitation leather. The steel sheet 1-3 and the leather covering 44 are at tached to the outer sideo'f the flange 36 by finn'd s'crewsefi- (Fig. 5). Attached to -the inner s. 05 the end frames 35. by suitabletastenings indieat'" at at? (Fig. 5) are curtains 48that; as she n in Fig; 2. are centrally split for all or the major portion of; tlieir height' as shown at 49, so as to permit'the passage ofthe 'he'ad and-teet-of pa'tient'bet'ween them: The inner aluminumlamination-88 overlies thefinnerside's ofthe side barsi3'7, as shownin Fig.

Scription oft its structural features.

=lowered to enelo.

6 the asbestos layer ll terminates at the upper edges oi the bars 37, and the steel and leather layers 43 and M overlie the outer sides otthe bars 37; and the several layers are bound to the bottom edges of the bars 37 by channel-shapedbinding strips 51 andfasteningscrews 52 (Fig. 6).

The cabinet casing is interiorly equipped with electric lights to furnish'hea't and the therapeutic lightrays, suchasthe infra red rays. To the inner lamination 38, on each longitudinal halt of the casing are attached, by bolts 53, clamp brackets 54 which embrace the socketsbSotlirmp bulbs 56. Current is supplied to the lamps through circuit. Wires 57' led into the casing through an insulation sleeve 58 n'iountediin the roofof th'eca'si'ng the wires being disposed' in the dead air space 4-2 Qand v The cabinet casing is hingedl preferably by the meansshown in Figs. 1 and 2; Bolted tothe'outer sidesof' the side-rails 13' are a plurality of U-shaped brackets 59, iri'which is mounted a stOprOd 61' disposed: adjacent to and opposite'the'outersides ot'the rails include depending extensions or tail' pieces' 65, that" when the casing is swung barlewardlyto' fully uncover the table top 20, strilte 'th'e stop'rodfil and thushold the casingi'n' fully openedposition To-the front sideof the casing are'attached a pair of hair'- dles66to facilitate the nianualopening and closi ngot-the "casing;

Themanner in wliichthe applianccserves the stated purposes and objectsthereot will be readily apparent fromthe foregoing de- The cabinethavingbeen swung back, thepatient takes his position-ou-tlietable top. and the motor 21 is put in operation; The rapid ro-' tation of the drum 25*carrying the eccentric "weight 34imparts a rapid vibrator-y morenent to-the table top-20, the vibrations belng transmitted toany" portion of-thebody of the-patient requiring' v-ibratory treatment" by causing the patientto so dispose himself that thatp'ortion ofhi-s body will lie in contact with the'table; Ins'uch position the patient" isalso favorably situated for the application of manual :or' mechani al massage. here; in addition in, orin' lieu of. the vibratory treatment. heat and" light treatment is to be applied; the cabinet is the part of the body of the patient 'requirii 1? sucli treatment, and the li hts-are turne, on; By hinging the cabinet" Fothat' it is slida'ble on the hinge rod lengthwise of theftable. light and'heat may be applied to theu per or lower part or" the-"body of a-patient lying on' the table;

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without requiring the patient to shift his position. Manifestly, the light and heat treatment may be applied either indepencb ently or simultaneously with the vibratory treatment.

Vhile I have herein shown and described onepractical physical embodiment of the principle of the invention which satisfactorily fulfills stated purposes and objects thereof, it is manifest that many of the structural details, including the means for etfecting'the vibratory movements, may be variously modified without departing from the substance of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. For instance, rubber balls might be substituted for the table supporting springs 11. Hence, I reserve all such variations, modifications and mechanical equivalents as fall within the spirit and purview of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination of a table, springs sustaining the weight of said table, a shaft mounted on said table beneath the table top, a drum on said shaft, an eccentric weight on said drum, a motor, and driving connections from said motor to said drum for rotating the latter at high speed.

2. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination of a table, springs sustaining the weight of said table, a fixed shaft mounted on said table, a drum journaled on said shaft, an eccentric weight on said drum, an electric motor beneath said table, and driving connections from said motor to said drum for rotating the latter at high speed.

3. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination of a table, a base for supporting said table springs mounted on said base on which the legs of said table are stepped, a fixed shaft mounted on said table beneath the table top, a drum journaled by anti-friction bearings on said shaft, an eccgitric weight on said drum, an electric motor mounted on said base, and a pulley and belt drive from said motor to said drum.

4;. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination with a vibratable massage table, of an electric cabinet hinged to said table and formed with an open side in register with the table top when said cabinet is in operating position.

5. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination with a vibratable massage table having a flat top, of an electric cabinetcomprising a substantially semi-cylindrical body or shell, and openable end closures therefor, and means for hingedly attaching said cabinet at one edge of said body or shell to an edge of the table.

6. In a therapeutic apparatus of the char closing said end lframes, and means for hingedly attaching said cabinet at one edge of said body or shell to an edge of the table.

7. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination with a vibratable massage table, of an electric cabinet hinged at one edge to an edge of said table and formed with an open side adapted to register with the table top when said cabinet is in operating position, and cooperating stop devices limiting the opening movement of said cabinet.

8. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination with a table, of an electric cabinet hinged to said table with capacity of movement on the latter in a direction parallel with the axis of the hinge.

9. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination with a table, of a hinge rod mounted on said table parallel with one edge of the latter, an electric cabinet, and hinge members attached to said cabinet and slidable on said hinge rod.

10. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination with a structure adapted to support the body of a patient, of mechanical means for imparting vibrating movement to said structure, and means mounted on said structure for administering heat and light treatments to a patient on said structure.

11. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination with a massage table, of resilient means sustaining the weight of said table, mechanical means for imparting vibrating movement to said table, and an electric cabinet mounted on said table for administering heat and light treatments to a patient on said table.

12. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination with a vibratable massage table, of an electric cabinet hinged to swing over said table to and from operative position and formed with an open side in register with the top of the table when said cabinet is in operative position.

13. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vibratable structure, a shaft carried by said structure, a drum on said shaft, an eccentric weight on said drum, a motor, and driving connect-ions from said motor to said drum for rotating the latter at high speed.

14. In a therapeutic apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vibratable structure, ashaft carried by said structure, a drum journalled by anti-friction bearings on said shaft, an eccentric weight on'said drum, itHlOtOFyflllCl driving. conneotlons from said motor to said drum for rotating the latter at high speed' 15. In a therapeutic apparatus ofthe-character described, the combination of a-vibratabl'e structure, a shaftcari'ied by said Structure, a drum journalledby a pair of spaced antifrictionbearings on said shaft andprovided with a hollow portion between said bearany lubricant Which may be discharged from the ends of the drum, and means for rotatlng said drum at high speed.

In wltness'of the foregoing I afiix my signature.

MERTON W. VVENTWORTH. 

